Not everyone knows how cleaning can sometimes feel like an endless loop.
Your daily routine may feel like a constant battle against pet hair, spilled crumbs, and the general chaos from your kid’s toys all over the house.
But what if there was a pretty nifty system that could change your cleaning battle?
Meet Clean Mama, a blog run by Becky Rapinchuk, a mom who understands the struggles of keeping a home clean with the never-ending tasks life throws at you.
She’s been there, done that, and has some practical tips to make it all more manageable.
No fancy jargon or complicated systems, just down-to-earth advice for a cleaner and calmer home.
what’s this Clean Mama routine all about?
Well, it’s not a complicated set of rules but more like a collection of small, doable tasks that you can tackle every day without feeling overwhelmed.
Let me break it down for you.
The Five Daily Tasks
Clean Mama breaks down the day routine into 5 small and easy-to-do tasks.
If you do them every day, you don’t end up with a larger cleaning mess at the end of the week.
Remember, you can do these in any order – always make sure to adapt any cleaning routine to your personal preference.
Make Beds
Wise people say it’s important, and they’re right! It’s a small thing, but trust me, it makes a huge difference.
It gives a feeling that your day is not complete if you don’t fix your bed as soon as you wake up.
Applying bedroom decluttering tips can magically make your whole bedroom look put together, and it’s a quick win to start your day.
Check Floors
After dinner, take a couple of minutes to deal with those inevitable crumbs and spills.
I often need to use the hand vacuum or spot clean with a rag but it’s pretty easy to do it each day than to do it at the end of the week.
It’s a mini-cleanup that keeps your floors looking decent without much effort.
Wipe Counters
This one’s my favorite. After finishing up with the dinner dishes, just give those kitchen counters a quick wipe-down.
This will help remove any greasy stains, or any spills you created while making dinner.
Additionally, if you clean it up that day, nothing will get crusty, or stuck onto your counters.
It’s like closing the kitchen chapter for the night and waking up to a clean slate.
Declutter Your House
A fast sweep through the house to toss any trash and put things back where they belong.
It sounds like a chore, but it’s surprisingly effective in keeping things organized.
You may create a storage area where you can easily keep and store things at your home like a hanging shelf or even a secret storage under your staircase or even in a customized sofa.
One Load of Laundry
Laundry is a never-ending story. But doing one load every day, from washing to folding, keeps the laundry monster at bay.
Even if folding isn’t your strong suit (guilty!), it keeps the clean clothes flowing.
Just make sure that you segregate your laundry thoroughly so you can avoid blending of colors.
The Weekly Tasks
Now, let’s talk about the weekly routine.
These are the tasks that zero in on specific areas each week, ensuring that your home stays in a constant state of order.
No need to be overwhelmed. Clean Mama is just breaking it down into manageable chunks.
While she recommends doing one each day, you’re welcome to switch it up however it works best for you.
Monday: Bathrooms
Ah, the often-neglected sanctuaries. Once a week, it’s time to give your bathrooms a little love.
Wipe down surfaces, scrub the sink, and bid farewell to any lingering toothpaste splatters.
It’s a small investment of time that pays off when you step into a gleaming bathroom.
Tuesday: Dusting
Dust has a sneaky way of settling into every nook and cranny. So, once a week, grab a duster and banish those pesky particles.
Make sure to dust your bookshelves, door frames, mantles, and any other large surfaces that collect dust.
Also, don’t forget to dust in the corners of rooms and get any cobwebs or spiders.
Wednesday: Vacuuming
Time to show your floors some TLC.
Clean Mama recommends a weekly vacuuming session so that you can keep dirt and crumbs at bay.
Make sure to get underneath your sofas, tables, and other hard areas to reach with a broom.
A quick pass with the vacuum can make a big difference in the overall feel of your home.
Thursday: Wash Floors
Another thing that Clean Mama recommends doing each week is mopping your floors.
It doesn’t have to be an elaborate dance with a bucket. Just a quick mop-over will help your floors look their best.
She likes to vacuum her floors on Wednesday afternoon/night so that then Thursday morning she can wash them first thing.
But make sure to do what is best for you.
Friday: Catch-All Day
Life happens, and sometimes things get missed during the week. That’s where the catch-all day comes in.
Use it to tie up any loose ends – maybe a quick declutter or address any areas that need a little extra attention.
Or maybe you weren’t able to do the dusting on Tuesday.
This Catch-all day would be able to help you make sure you don’t miss any important tasks for the week.
Saturday: Sheets and Towels
Clean Mama likes to set aside one day of the week to make sure you get in your sheets and towels to be washed.
While you are doing a load of laundry every day, You would substitute this day (i.e. Saturday) to specifically wash your extra ‘non-clothing’ laundry.
I love that this makes sure that you’re getting specific things washed each week since that can be a big issue for some people.
Sunday: Just the Dailies
If you’ve made it through the week, then Sundays are a day of rest.
Clean Mama recommends just resting and relaxing on this day. While you will still do your 5 daily tasks, you won’t have to do anything else.
All these weekly tasks are like the backbone of the Clean Mama routine.
And the best part? You get to enjoy a consistently clean and cozy space without feeling like you’re constantly playing catch-up.
Monthly And Quarterly Rotating Tasks
Clean Mama throws in a couple of optional extras as well – monthly/quarterly rotating tasks and monthly focus areas.
Vacuuming baseboards or washing windows might not be your idea of fun, but it’s all mapped out for you.
No need to overthink it.
Vacuuming Baseboards (Monthly)
It would not be the most thrilling task, but it’s one of those things you notice when it’s done.
It feels like you attain something good after cleaning your baseboards especially if you see it clear and dust-free.
Just a quick tip, you could use your vacuum with a brush attachment or stiff broom.
Wipe it with a mixture of warm water and vinegar then dry it with a clean cloth and your baseboards will look spiffy.
Washing Windows (Semiannual)
We’re not talking about a massive window-cleaning spree here. Twice a year, just grab a rag and some window cleaner and wipe those windows.
Make sure to wipe from the inside of the house as well as from the outside.
Quick tip, only use a microfiber cloth in cleaning your windows to remove the accumulated dust easily.
It will help shine in more light, and you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner.
Defrosting the Freezer (Quarterly)
Nobody likes a frosty freezer.
Every few months, take a moment to defrost it. It’s a bit of a hassle, but your frozen goods will thank you for the extra space.
You can also use this time to take stock of what you have in your freezer. Just write it down somewhere, so that you don’t forget it until your next defrosting party.
Changing Air Filters (Quarterly)
It’s one of those tasks you forget about until you’re wondering why your place feels a bit stuffy.
Maintenance of your air filters is very important, especially for your kids because it can cause allergies and other airborne problems in the future.
Here is what you need to do. Pop in a new air filter every few months and make sure you clean it monthly.
It will save you power in the long run and you’ll be breathing easier.
Deep-Cleaning Appliances (Quarterly)
Don’t forget to show some love to those appliances.
Give your oven, microwave, and dishwasher a thorough cleaning every few months.
It keeps them running smoothly and, dare I say, might even make your cooking endeavors a bit more pleasant.
Remember, these are just suggestions, not mandates.
Feel free to tackle them when it suits you.
Clean Mama’s got it all laid out for you on her website – no need to stress about when to defrost the freezer or clean the windows.
It’s all there on the checklist.
Still Curious About it and stress, need Mental Rest?
Following a routine or a schedule for your daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning is kind of hard at the beginning.
Hence, sometimes following what is listed in our routine is the only thing that we focus and we miss other things like taking care of ourselves.
This is an important routine that we should not forget.
That’s why I created the Declutter For Self-Care checklist.
Inside I give several checklists for you to use to help declutter not only your physical space but also your mental and emotional space as well.
Download below and start giving your life a stress-free self-care checklist for your downsizing journey.
Alison’s Notebook
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